After Northern grid failure, South takes precautions

Bangalore: Unlike India's northern, eastern and northeastern power grids which collapsed this week, the state-run Karnataka Power Corp Ltd (KPCL) on Thursday said the southern power grid was safe from tripping.

"As a precaution, we have conducted a reality check on our state and southern grids to prevent a repeat of the tripping the other grids faced. We have also reviewed the procedures and systems to ensure the grids operate normally," a KPCL official told IANS.

People stranded due to the Metro services coming to a halt yesterday. AP

Karnataka Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje met the KPCL, power utilities and the state electricity regulatory commission to review the power situation in the state and the demand-supply equation due to poor monsoon affecting hydel power generation.

"Stakeholders of the southern grid are strictly adhering to the procedures and drawing only that much of power entitled to each state to ensure it (grid) remains healthy at 50Mhz frequency," the official said.

A special protection system has been installed in the southern grid to prevent the frequency from dropping below 50 Mhz.

In the event of the frequency slipping, the protective system automatically blocks overdrawing and prevents the grid from collapsing.

When the eastern grid collapsed Tuesday, the southern grid lost about 1,500 megawatts (mw) due to the Kolar-Talcher line from southern Karnataka to Orissa tripping.

"Grid discipline by the fourth states has allowed us to maintain power supply despite the shortage of 1,500 mw," the official added.